Page 33

Cara cleared her throat. “My alpha,” she began.

I shook my head. “I’m not alpha yet, but what is it?”

Her eyes fell to the wooden box in her hands. She glanced at Terra again. “As you know, my father, as the pack’s blacksmith, works with metals. Sometimes, he has to use a delicate touch…” She cleared her throat. “Perhaps this is best for Terra to explain.”

Terra accepted the small parcel reverently, and she turned to face me. “This was my late husband’s wish. He sent this off to Cara’s father before he passed in the hopes our daughters would find a mate.” She coughed, wiping at her nose and I realized that she was getting choked up.

I stood up and put my hands over hers. She slowly opened the lid.

“These are rings for you and Diana, newly cast from the silver rings that her father Elias and I wore to represent our union.” Her voice lowered to a faint whisper. “I hope you will accept them.”

The silver rings looked like twisting vines. They were absolutely perfect. I had to swallow past a dry lump in my throat. “Yes, of course, I would be honored.”

She patted my hand as she released them. “Diana will be back. She is strong and loyal. She would never abandon us.”

I wanted to believe Terra’s words, but hours passed, and there was still no sign of her emerging from the trees. I trained myself not to look for her. To focus on other tasks.

There was plenty to do before the succession ceremony. I had to bathe in fragrant rosewater. My hair was tamed into tight braids. Terra drew symbols on my arms and face with sticks of charcoal. She explained their meaning I think, but I couldn’t concentrate, I didn’t hear her. Finally, I was dressed in a dark shift, an open robe that revealed my bare chest. Everyone in the KU pack started making their way to the ceremony site, the beach where the coupling ceremony had taken place.

The afternoon sun cast fiery rays across the sky, and members of the elder council and the pack guard, dressed in clean ceremonial linens, surrounded me for protection. When we reached the beach, familiar torches marked a path in the sand, funneling the witnesses into a single long line. At its end was a woven mat, the place where I would be anointed as alpha.

I tried to take in all the faces around me. I recognized many, but there were a few I didn’t know well. They trusted me to be their leader. It felt premature, entirely wrong. I swallowed hard against the hot, slick bile rising in the back of my throat.

How was I supposed to lead or protect them when I didn’t even know what happened to my father? Hell. I couldn’t even keep my mate by my side.

I stood on the mat and waited. Terra presided over the ceremony, and I could tell everyone was anxious to get started. It was well known that a pack without an alpha was at its weakest, most susceptible to enemies and danger.

“We thank everyone for their presence as we recognize a new alpha to lead us, a new wolf to protect us, a new friend to save us.”

Murmurs of affirmation rippled through the gathering.

Terra turned to me. “Kneel.”

I did, slowly and smoothly sinking to my knees. Terra lifted her hands in the air and flower petals escaped her fingers, scattering on the wind.

Her chanting mesmerized everyone:

“Goddess of Night, wrap your child

in your strength so he may cast down the foes

that would see our end.

Goddess of Light, shine your beacon

on his path so he may see the journey

laid before his feet.

Goddess of Truth—”

A chilling howl interrupted the seer’s words. I immediately jumped to my feet as Jesse and the others swarmed around me.

Then there were more howls, from the cliffs, from the edge of the beach. My pack pressed together tightly, eyes darting around as they searched for the source.

Then a wolf, the same one that attacked me in the forest with Diana, stepped out of the darkness, lips curled over yellowed teeth. He bore no vestiges of his former injuries. I tried to push my way through the people surrounding me.

“No, you cannot shift!” Jesse barked, shoving me back by the shoulder. “If you do it before the ceremony finishes, we will lose our alpha and the Goddess’s magic forever.”